Past Board Minutes

September 2006

Members Present:
(Board Members absent marked with *)
Richard Hess
Jon Hokanson
Mark Lokhorst
Henrik Lyder
Patti Quinn*
Bob Ruud
Deana Siekmann
Liesl Taylor
Beth Wilson
Sherry Wolfe

Non-Members Present: Randi Shapiro

Parent Forum: There were no non-board parents present.

Meeting called to order by Richard Hess at 6:20 PM.

Minutes from the August meeting were read. Henrik made a motion to accept the minutes. Beth seconded. All approved.

Finance: Randi distributed the report documents. Expense exceeding Income in both the contemporary report and the year-end report on 05-06 show shortfalls due to holdbacks. Regular updates will be coming out on these as we work toward receipt of the holdback funds. Bob will work with SBS to format the data to show more clearly the role of holdbacks in the long-term financial position.

Randi reviewed a proposal she had submitted regarding a fund balance and deficit budget policy (attached). There was some discussion, and it was decided to table the proposal until the October meeting. The finance committee will review the policy and bring it to the board meeting in October.

There was some discussion of the local referendum. As a charter school, we are prohibited from issuing referenda, and the passage of a local referendum will not benefit us as a charter school. Randi will put a note in the newsletter to clarify this for parents.

Governance:

Election of Officers: The office of Treasurer has been open since the end of June. Jon Hokanson nominated Mark Lokhorst for Treasurer. Liesl seconded. All voted in favor.

Board Member to be added (parent): Members are encouraged to approach a parent whom they think would be a good board member and inform them of the opening on the board. If they are interested, Randi will give them a form to fill out.

Liaisons:

                  Fundraising: Beth and Patti; Beth gave a brief summary.

                  Hospitality: Deana gave a summary.

                  Community Relations: Liesl is working on the definition and role of her committee.

                  Building and Grounds: Sherry will be ready to report soon.

Summary of Charter School Board Training Session of September 20:

Points of the session:

The board only functions as such in its meetings;

There were clear definitions of board responsibilities;

There was good delineation of oversight items for board and administration, respectively;

There was strong support of board meetings (executive) being very distinct from staff meetings (managerial);

Fundraising: No report.

Personnel: Bob summarized the proposed change of the Personal Leave Policy to include a provision for donating days to another staff member in need (proposal attached). There was some discussion as to whether there was a predictable cost the school. General understanding was that there would not be. Sherry made a motion to approve the policy as written. Jon seconded. All approved.

Curriculum/Programs: No report.

Building Company: Randi summarized the status of the moisture damage to the floor. Randi and Henrik will work on an action plan, including engaging John Nielsen on a limited contract to advise on problems which seem to be due to faulty construction, and which may entail eventually pursuing a legal solution. 

Building Project: No report.

OSHA: No report.

Fundraising: No report.

Grant Writing: No report.

Technology: No report.

Communication/Hospitality/Volunteers: No report.

Calendar Review: No additional dates.

Confirmation of date and time of next meeting: October 23, 2006.

Jon made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Henrik seconded. All approved.

Respectfully submitted by Bob Ruud, Board Secretary. These minutes are posted on the WLS website (www.worldlearnerschool.com) after they are approved (i.e. after the subsequent board meeting). They are distributed electronically to board members who have email, on paper to those who don’t. A paper copy is filed in the master file in Bob’s office. A copy is also available in the WLS office.